TNAG-2195-FCO40-3132-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 229

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my draft-

Mr Stone You may 2/4 26/34. (attached) in the light of para 4

of Ms Mayor's minute.

Mr Morris 2/4.

CS27/3

CALL ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE BY THE FRIENDS OF HONG KONG: 1200,

TUESDAY 13 MARCH

1.

Discussions focussed almost entirely on nationality. At the end

of the call, Vice Admiral Sir John Roxburgh asked whether the contents could be published in the Friends of Hong Kong magazine, "Monitor". The Secretary of State undertook to write a letter to

Dame Jill Knight, covering points raised during the call, which could be so published.

2. I have recorded below in question and answer form, a summary of the discussion, which you will want to put into "module" language for a letter. We must bear in mind that the Friends of Hong Kong

and the Monitor magazine are pro-Taiwan. Publication in the Monitor of a letter from the Secretary of State is likely to attract Chinese attention and disapproval. Pro-Taiwan elements may also seek to

re-publish the letter elsewhere. We shall need to draft carefully.

Question 1: Have we come to arrangements with other countries to offer passports to Hong Kong people?

Answer 1: Our purpose was to anchor people in Hong Kong. Often the aim of countries like Canada or Australia was to draw them away.

However, we were encouraging other countries to follow our example,

eg the French, we believed, operated a limited scheme for employees.

We would probably report progress in this work when we published our

own Bill (the Secretary of State indicated that he had been annoyed

by the recent headline on this subject and had purposely squashed it).

Question 2: Was there indication of large scale immigration to

these countries at the moment?

Answer 2: The aim of our scheme was to offer passports to encourage

people to stay in Hong Kong, not to encourage immigration. In

persuading other countries to adopt schemes, the aim was the same.

CODE 18-77

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